Mark and Ellen have been in ministry for over 35 years, first for 5 years as pastors in the US, then church planting in Mexico, and now in Spain. They created a natural way to both bless and share their faith with the thousands of Muslims immigrants and refugees in Spain when they co-founded Oasis Center in Madrid. Oasis Center offers an opportunity for Muslims of many nations to know vibrant Christians through their offerings of daily language classes, clubs and homework assistance, camps and many other events throughout the year.

Oasis Center is led by a dedicated team of volunteers and staff who walk alongside families as they build language skills and navigate the challenges of life in Spain. Many students come from countries where sharing the Gospel is forbidden, often encountering followers of Christ for the first time. Oasis Center is more than a local ministry—it’s part of a growing movement that inspires believers across Europe, the United States, and Latin America to serve in Muslim-majority communities worldwide.

Committed to embodying Christ’s love in action, Mark and Ellen train leaders across continents through Global Initiative, equipping them to reach unreached communities within their own nations. They also train volunteers from local churches to connect with students, and welcome short-term missionaries and teams for periods ranging from 1 week to 2 years. They are developing a second Oasis Center in Barcelona as part of their broader vision to establish ministry hubs in key gateway cities across Europe.

The couple has been in USA for several months raising funds. Team members on site are doing an amazing job of leading Oasis Center while they are gone.  They have the largest ever men's Spanish class, the Women's class is full, and there is a waiting list for our children's classes.

Ellen has a Master’s of Education and Mark is completing his Ph D. They have 3 wonderful adult children: Katie, an AG missionary to Muslims in Europe who is married to Andrew Skipper; Emily, who works with refugees in Clarkston, GA; and Tim, who is a Hot Shot fire fighter with the US Forest service.

Please pray for:

- Funding so they can return to Oasis Center and build up ministries like it around Europe.

- Strength and passion for team members doing double duty while their leaders are away.

- God's direction for potential new ministry in a squatters section of Madrid called Cañada Real. Families there often have no running water, electricity, or close access to grocery stores.